CAPUTO: Hoke's right - he must coach better, or he won't be coaching Michigan for long

Michigan head coach Brady Hoke looks up at the scoreboard in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against Nebraska in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013. Nebraska won 17-13. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)

It made for a colorful quote, but this isnít about talk. Itís about action. Or in Michiganís case, inaction.

Great on national signing day. Disappointing on the field.

Itís Michigan identity under Brady Hoke.

Did you know, Nebraska running back Ameer Abdullah and quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr., who combined for the winning score Saturday on a brilliant option play, were 3-star recruits according to Rivals.com?

Oh, never mind.

The Wolverines are fortunate they are above .500. This is a team that should have lost to winless UConn, and Akron, which is 3-7. How do you think the Wolverines would do in rematch with Minnesota, especially on the road?

It has come up far short of living up to Michiganís storied tradition. Michigan fans look to East Lansing and see Mark Dantonio. They look to Columbus and see Urban Meyer.

They look out their window and they see Brady Hoke Ė and all of a sudden his not wearing a head set on the sidelines is a very, very, very big deal.

While the defense did an excellent job of keeping the Wolverines in it, the offense continued to struggle.

Nebraskaís defense is better this year than last when it allowed 63 points to Ohio State, and 70 in the Big Ten title game to Wisconsin.

But still, Wyoming had 34 points, UCLA 41 and Minnesota 34 vs. the Cornhuskers. Save one drive, to begin the second half, the Wolverines didnít look much different offensively than they did while getting pummeled at Michigan State.

Gardner was sacked seven times, just like the MSU game. The Wolverines had minus yards rushing, just like in East Lansing.

The defense was fine Ė until it really had to stop Nebraska. Then it yielded a 14-play, 75-yard scoring drive.

If Michigan doesnít get better quickly, Ohio State will beat the Wolverines by four or five touchdowns. There will be no mercy.

Sympathy isnít in big supply for Michiganís coach when he loses games his program, based on all its resources, should win.

It comes with the territory.

Yeah, Brady Hoke needs to coach Ďem better.

Or he wonít be coaching Ďem for that much longer.

Itís the bottom line.

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About the Author

Pat Caputo has written as a beat writer and sports columnist for The Oakland Press since 1984 and blogs at http://patcaputo.blogspot.com/. Reach the author at pat.caputo@oakpress.com
or follow Pat on Twitter: @PatCaputo98.